Bruce Ely/The OregonianLaMarcus Aldridge shot 46 for 88 from the field and averaged 28.3 points and 10.3 rebounds for the week.

The NBA put a cherry on top of Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge's strong week by awarding him Western Conference Player of the Week award.

Aldridge averaged 28.3 points and 10.3 rebounds and shot 52.2 percent from the field as he helped the Blazers go 4-0 during the week that ended Sunday.

He also got the better of another nominee for the award, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, in their head-to-head matchup on Thursday at the Rose Garden.

In that game, won by Portland 108-93, Aldridge had 28 points and eight rebounds and shot
13 for 20 from the field while also being the primary defender on
Griffin.

Griffin, who did not guard Aldridge for most the game, had 20 points and 18 rebound and shot 6 for 17 from the field.

Griffin, on the
strength of his 47-point game against Indiana -- the high game by any
NBA player this season -- averaged 31.5 points and 14.5 rebounds and
shot 57.7 percent from the field as he helped the Clippers to three wins
in four games.

Aldridge
was nominated for the honor for the fourth time this season, but won it for the first time in his career. He was also was nominated for the weeks of Nov. 15-21,
Dec. 13-19 and Jan. 3-9. Blazers guard Wesley Matthews was nominated for
his play Dec. 6-12.

The NBA's release:

ORLANDO’S
DWIGHT HOWARD AND PORTLAND’S LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE NAMEDNBA EASTERN
AND WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEKNEW YORK,
Jan. 24, 2010 – The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the
Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge today were named the Eastern
and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games
played Jan. 17 through Jan. 23.

Howard led
Orlando to 3-1 record on the week, averaging 26 points to go along with
13.3 rebounds (tied for third in the league and second in the East)
and 1.3 blocks. He recorded three games with at least 20 points and
10 rebounds, giving him 20-10 in 23 games on the season. On Jan.
21, vs. Toronto, he scored 31 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in just
three quarters of play, including 17 points and seven rebounds in the
third quarter.

Aldridge ranked
fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 28.3 points to go along with
10.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.His efforts helped the Trail Blazers
go 4-0 to extend their season-high winning streak to five games.
On Jan. 27, he scored a career-high 37 points and grabbed 12 rebounds
in a 113-102 win over the Timberwolves. Aldridge became the first Trail
Blazer to score at least 25 points and grab 10 rebounds in five straight
games.

Here is a recap
of the week for Howard and Aldridge:

Dwight
Howard, Orlando MagicJan. 17
@ Boston: Recorded a double-double with 33 points and 13 rebounds
in a 109-106 loss to the Celtics.Jan.
19vs. Philadelphia: Scored 18 points and added seven rebounds
in a 99-98 win over the 76ers.Jan. 21
vs. Toronto: Tallied 31 points and 19 rebounds in a 112-72 win over
the Raptors.Jan. 22
@ Houston: Earned his third double-double of the week with 22 points
and 14 rebounds in a 118-104 win over the Rockets.

LaMarcus
Aldridge, Portland Trail BlazersJan.
17 vs. Minnesota: Scored a career high 37 points while adding 12
rebounds in a 113-102 win over the Timberwolves.Jan.
19 @ Sacramento: Recorded 23 points and nine rebounds in a 94-90
win over the Kings.Jan. 20
vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Totaled 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds
in a 108-93 win over the Clippers.Jan. 22
vs. Indiana: Tallied 25 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in
a 97-92 win over the Pacers.

Other nominees
for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Atlanta’s
Joe Johnson, Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony,
Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, and New Orleans’ David West.